Description

A spectacular sized antique silver punch bowl with the original castellated collar mounted with shaped strapwork and fleur de lys motifs. Very handsome design and excellent proportions. The bowl design is typical for a monteith of the period 1700-1720 with its plain form on a built-up foot and the large hand engraved coat of arms.

Weight 2597g, 83 troy oz.
Height 26.5cm (with Monteith collar), 20cm (bowl). Diameter 35cm (collar), 32cm (bowl). London 1708/09.
Maker William Charnelhouse.
Britannia standard silver – 95.8% pure.
18th century.

This early English silver bowl is also perfect for use as a wine cooler or for flower display and will give as much pleasure today as it did over 300 years ago.

Marks. The body is stamped below the rim and on the collar with a full set of English silver hallmarks (slightly rubbed). Consecutive years 1708 and 1709. Maker’s mark also to the top of the crown. The owner’s initials “RK” are engraved under the base together with the scratchweight 85=8=0.

Provenance. Sold in Christie’s auction, London 17 April 1996.

Arms. The strongest contender for a piece of silverware of this weight and size is Payne, a family of wealthy plantation owners in St Christopher’s a.k.a. Saint Kitts, West Indies, originally of Lavington, Wilts. A member of this family became a baronet in 1737 and another, the politician Ralph Payne, was created Baron Lavington in 1795.

*Britannia Standard. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares. Instead the new higher standard, 95.8 per cent pure had to be used and new hallmarks were ordered, “the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia” and the lion’s head erased (torn off at the neck) replacing the lion passant and the leopard’s head crowned. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720.

Literature: The Monteith bowl is mentioned in Anthony Wood’s diary in 1683 however the first recorded examples do not appear until the following year (ref. Georgina E. Lee Monteith Bowls). Food at this time was heavily spiced and a cooling drink was needed such as wine or the newly fashionable punch. Hence the requirement for a large bowl which could be filled with either a drink or ice, and to which a shaped removable rim could be used to hold stem glasses, punch ladle and lemon squeezer. A bowl of this type is referred to as a Monteith.

This beautiful punch bowl is in very good condition. An attractive feature is the blobby mercury solder underneath which is completely original in the manufacture. The detachable top slots onto the bowl easily and fits well.

Maker: William Charnelhouse

William Charnelhouse, London silversmith, apprenticed to Robert Cooper 1688, free 1696. Livery 1708. Mark entered as largeworker 1703, address Gutter Lane. Died circa 1711.

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